Pabst Blue Ribbon Grillo’s Pickle Beer 6Pk Cans

Pabst Blue Ribbon Grillo’s Pickle Beer 6Pk Cans is a pickle-brined American lager brewed with real Grillo’s pickle brine, packaged as a 6-pack of 12 oz cans at 4.7% ABV. This collaboration between two iconic American brands delivers genuine dill character rather than relying on artificial flavoring — a distinction that separates it from most novelty beers on the market.
Quick Facts: ABV: 4.7%  |  Origin: Wisconsin, USA  |  Style: Pickle-Brined American Lager  |  Brewery: Pabst Brewing Company
Production & Heritage
Pabst Brewing Company, originally founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1844, remains one of America’s most recognizable beer brands. This limited collaboration pairs PBR’s classic American lager recipe with authentic brine from Grillo’s Pickles, the Boston-based fresh pickle company known for its all-natural ingredients. Rather than dosing the beer with synthetic pickle extract, the brewing process incorporates real Grillo’s brine, which contributes natural dill, garlic, and saline character directly into the lager base.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: The nose opens with unmistakable pickle brine — briny dill and a hint of garlic riding atop a foundation of light malt sweetness. There is a pleasant interplay between the pickle aromatics and the subtle hop character of the base lager.
Taste: The entry is classic PBR malt — clean, slightly sweet, and grainy. At mid-palate, the pickle brine asserts itself with a crisp, dill-forward punch and light saline minerality. The two flavors sit side by side rather than fully merging, giving the impression of sipping a lager with a pickle back built right in.
Finish: Medium-short and drying, with lingering dill and a faint whisper of garlic that fades quickly. A clean saline note persists briefly before the palate resets.
How to Drink PBR Pickle Beer
Serve cold — straight from the can or poured into a pint glass, where its bright, clear appearance and robust foam head become part of the experience. A Michelada works well here, where the brine character doubles down with hot sauce, lime, and Worcestershire for an intensely savory drink. Try it in a Beer-garita (a margarita topped with pickle beer) for an unexpected but balanced sour-salty combination. It also substitutes naturally into a Pickle Back Shandy, replacing the traditional whiskey-and-pickle-juice shot format with a more sessionable, low-ABV alternative blended with lemonade.
Best For
Pickle lovers looking for a genuinely brined beer rather than an artificial novelty
Tailgates, cookouts, and backyard gatherings where conversation-starting drinks thrive
Pairing alongside burgers, hot dogs, and other classic American grill fare
Gifting to the adventurous beer drinker who has tried everything else
Frequently Asked Questions
What does PBR Pickle Beer taste like? It tastes like a light, crisp American lager with a noticeable dill and brine character layered on top — think of a built-in pickle back without the whiskey. The malt sweetness of classic PBR balances the salty, dill-forward punch from the Grillo’s brine.
How does PBR Pickle Beer compare to Best Maid Pickle Beer? Best Maid Pickle Beer, brewed with Martin House Brewing, tends to emphasize a sharper vinegar tang from Best Maid’s classic brine, while PBR’s version uses Grillo’s fresh pickle brine for a rounder, more dill-and-garlic-driven profile. Both use real brine rather than artificial flavoring, but they deliver noticeably different pickle characters.
Is PBR Pickle Beer good for sipping on its own? Yes, particularly for anyone who already enjoys pickle-brined cocktails or pickle backs — it delivers that same salty, dill-forward satisfaction in a sessionable 4.7% ABV format that does not demand a mixer.
Where is PBR Pickle Beer made? It is produced under the Pabst Brewing Company banner, historically rooted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin since 1844, though modern Pabst beers are contract brewed through partner facilities in the United States.
What foods pair well with PBR Pickle Beer? Cheeseburgers and smash burgers benefit from the beer’s briny cut through rich fat. Fried chicken pairs well thanks to the saline contrast against crispy breading. Classic ballpark hot dogs echo the pickle-and-mustard flavor profile. Potato chips and dip lean into the salty, snackable character. Cuban sandwiches, which already feature pickles, create a natural flavor bridge.
What sizes does PBR Pickle Beer come in? The standard format is a 6-pack of 12 oz cans, consistent with PBR’s typical retail packaging for specialty releases.
Is PBR Pickle Beer worth the price? It positions as an accessible, value-tier novelty beer priced in line with other PBR specialty releases — making it a low-risk way to try the pickle beer trend without committing to a craft price point.
Why PBR Pickle Beer?
The defining edge here is the use of real Grillo’s pickle brine — not concentrate, not extract, not “natural flavoring.” That ingredient choice results in a beer that actually smells and tastes like fresh dill pickles rather than a vague approximation. At 4.7% ABV, it stays sessionable enough for casual drinking without becoming a challenge. For anyone curious about the pickle beer trend, this collaboration between a heritage American brewer and a respected fresh pickle brand delivers the most approachable entry point in the category.